Due to "an imminent and serious reduction" in COVID-19 vaccine supply, York Region is temporarily closing four vaccination centres and delaying rollout to some priority groups, including those aged 60 to 64 and eight hotspots.
"Regrettably, we are now facing an imminent and serious reduction in vaccines given new delays in the Moderna shipment for York Region expected to arrive next week," wrote York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson in a letter to Health Minister Christine Elliott on April 9.
"Due directly to this delay, we are now unable to accommodate many of the newly announced eligibility groups outlined this week by the provincial government, including offering COVID-19 vaccines to residents between the ages of 60-64."
A "very limited" number of appointments are available this weekend, according to regional spokesperson Patrick Casey, however, the public health unit is closing four of its COVID-19 vaccination clinics, including the large drive-thru site at Canada’s Wonderland, the clinic at the Georgina Ice Palace and two physician-led clinics.
The hours of operation at the remaining three public-health clinics in Richmond Hill, Markham and Maple will be reduced as of Monday, April 12 until additional vaccine supply is received, Casey said.
Emmerson is appealing to the province to acquire any vaccines that can be directed to York Region before next week and the temporary closures and reductions in hours occur.
He stated that because of the surge in COVID-19 cases in the region, the public health unit has shifted its priorities from not only vaccinating the most vulnerable individuals, but administering doses in areas with the highest incidence rates, hospitalizations and mortality, which are in Vaughan and Markham.
"Without additional vaccine, we will not expand fully to protect the remaining eight of 13 provincially identified 'hotspot' areas, including residents and essential workers such as those working in manufacturing plants and educators," Emmerson wrote.
The clinics at Ray Twinney Recreation Complex in Newmarket, operated by Southlake Regional Health Centre, Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, operated by Mackenzie Health, and the Cornell Community Centre in Markham are not affected, "primarily due to their reliance on the Pfizer vaccine," Casey said.
